Injuries sustained during a collision after a pursuit - West Yorkshire Police, January 2018

At approximately 3am on 20 January 2018, West Yorkshire Police officers in a marked police car encountered a van and a blue Volvo stopped in the middle of the road. As they approached, the Volvo drove away and officers saw something being thrown from the vehicle. As a result, officers decided to activate the lights and sirens on their police vehicle. The Volvo continued to drive away from the police and to speed up. As the officers lost sight of the vehicle they heard a bang and saw the rear end of the Volvo rise in the air. As they approached, the officers found the vehicle had crashed into a house.

While first aid was being administered to the three occupants of the Volvo, who had received serious injuries, another police vehicle arrived at the scene. However, the vehicle made contact with a patch of black ice and was unable to stop. This caused it to collide with the police car, which in turn shunted forward, stopping just before it made contact with the Volvo.

During the investigation, investigators obtained accounts from the officers involved and witnesses to the incident. They also reviewed footage from nearby CCTV and officers’ body-worn cameras, along with the data recorded within the police vehicles.

Evidence indicated that the officers had lost sight of the Volvo prior to it crashing into the house, and were even slowing down with the intention of ceasing the pursuit. In addition, it did not appear that the collision between the second police vehicle to arrive at the scene and the police car already there caused a collision with the Volvo. Therefore, there was insufficient evidence to indicate that the police caused or contributed to the serious injuries that the driver and passengers of the Volvo received during the collision.

The investigation found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.